Comments on: NASA names acting administrator https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/ Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:47:39 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Edward https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/#comment-959067 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:47:39 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43728#comment-959067 LocalFluff wrote: “producing fuel on the Moon to supply space crafts orbiting earth. That doesn’t add up.”

Actually, it does add up.

There are a large number of ideas for refueling satellites on orbit, and there are at least two companies working on doing it. The Russians have a method for refueling space stations, which they used on MIR and occasionally use on the ISS. Extending the lives of certain satellites makes a great deal of sense. There was one satellite operator, decades ago, who compared the lifetime of a satellite to throwing away a car once the ashtray filled up.

ULA understands that getting material off the moon and into Earth orbit is easier (less fuel and expense) than sending it up from the Earth. I have linked to this CisLunar-1000 video before, but it describes this concept and other concepts, as well as their expectation of an increase in humans in space over the course of the next three decades:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxftPmpt7aA (7 minutes)

For those who think we should develop the Moon before developing Mars, it looks like there are plenty of companies and people who have their eyes on the Moon. Since it is closer, easier, and faster to reach, I think we can be confident that more will be done on the Moon sooner than things get done on Mars.

The next NASA administrator is likely to oversee a very exciting time for Earth’s space programs. With luck and good leadership, he and NASA will once again become leaders, partners, resources, and inspirations for these efforts.

]]> By: LocalFluff https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/#comment-958305 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 14:34:39 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43728#comment-958305 Speculations here and there on twitter and forums say that Jim Bridenstine has publically positioned himself for the post as NASA administrator rather than competing for heading the Air Force.

He seems to be a Moon-man, which could give the clear priority that NASA now desperately needs. But he has spoken about producing fuel on the Moon to supply space crafts orbiting earth. That doesn’t add up. I hope he finds his pocket calculator and doesn’t get fooled by even crazier ideas. Another ARM kind of fantasy mission would be the termination of NASA.

]]> By: wayne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/#comment-958201 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 20:27:46 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43728#comment-958201 Frank–
Right with you on that thought.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/#comment-958199 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 20:17:03 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43728#comment-958199 In reply to LocalFluff.

LocalFluff: This appointment of an acting administrator is a normal transition procedure. The political appointee resigns, and in the time period before a new one is chosen the second in command takes over temporarily. There is nothing strange here. And there is zero chance the Trump administration will not appoint someone.

]]> By: Frank https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/#comment-958198 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 20:12:05 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43728#comment-958198 I hope the Obama administration’s Muslim outreach program will end.

]]> By: LocalFluff https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/#comment-958191 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 19:50:05 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43728#comment-958191 Could the explanation for this non-move is that the transition team is uninterested, or divided? Sounds like this step-in would happen if the administrator would resign for any reason any time. Not like a deliberate decision made by the new White House. Maybe he’ll stay there for 8 years.

]]> By: wayne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/#comment-958187 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 19:28:42 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43728#comment-958187 can’t resist…

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
https://youtu.be/hgI8bta-7aw
–some good archival footage–

]]> By: Blair Ivey https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-names-acting-administrator/#comment-958178 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 18:20:55 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=43728#comment-958178 If they need a placeholder, why not Gordon Lightfoot?

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